Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Church Growth Developments in Colombia and Spain

First LDS congregation organized in Maicao, Colombia

The Church organized its first branch in the city of Maicao in northern Colombia. With nearly 100,000 inhabitants, Maicao was the city with the fourth largest population unreached by the LDS Church prior to the organization of the new branch. Within the past couple years, the Church established its first branch in neighboring Riohacha; possibly indicating coordinated mission efforts to expand outreach in Colombia's most populous cities that are unreached by the Church. Both branches pertain to the Santa Marta Colombia District.

Missionaries assigned for the first time to Ibiza, Balearic Islands, Spain

Mission leadership in the Spain Barcelona Mission report that the first group was organized on the island of Ibiza and that full-time missionaries were permanently assigned. The core of active membership in the small group consists of Paraguayan Latter-day Saints who relocated to the island but the Church has found a handful of local Spaniards who are members. With approximately 150,000 inhabitants, Ibiza is one of the Balearic Islands and pertains to the Baleares Spain District. The Church in Spain has renewed outreach expansion efforts within the past year as new branches were recently organized in Vic, Huercal-Overa, and Villagarcia de Arousa.

However, there are some stakes where the members of a few units will more frequently attend a temple to which they're not assigned. For example, I live in the Meeker Colorado Stake, and our assigned temple is Vernal- however, there is one unit, the Eagle Valley Ward, which is significantly closer to Denver. The stake leadership tries to encourage them to go to Vernal, at least for stake temple days. I am not sure about other times.

The Montpellier Stake was divided between the Boston and Montreal Temple Districts. At least this was the case when I was a temple worker in Boston about 5 years ago. Whether or not that's still true I can't say.

One example is the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Stake. The stake unit itself is assigned to the Washington DC Temple District, but each ward and branch has an official individual assignment to either the Washington DC Temple or to the Columbus Ohio Temple.

You have not updated potential temples list in a while. With all the anouncments in the past year what do you think will happen?Also do you have a potential new stakes list for UT, ID and the rest of the USA?

An old companion in Santa Rosa Ecuador wrote me last night that his district wants to be a stake and he beleives they will acheive it this year. He is either a councilman or councelor (conciliante) in the district.

About Me

My interest in researching the growth of the LDS Church began in 2002. I began this blog in late 2007 to provide a forum to discuss LDS growth developments and share information. I have also worked for The Cumorah Foundation since 2009 providing research assistance and resource development on LDS growth and missionary work. Since this time I have been interviewed by various media organizations and have co-authored with David Stewart our comprehensive work Reaching the Nations: International Church Growth Almanac: 2014 Edition. I have a Masters Degree in Psychology and a Bachelors Degree in Psychology and Geography. I am currently working on completing my doctorate in clinical psychology.